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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Dark Horse released the above preview page for NO WAY OUT #2 (coming out in about 3 weeks) so you get another glimpse at what's coming in your new favorite pulp comicbook :)

The Black Beetle has NO WAY OUT from the hands of the super-talented and always gorgeous Kate Leth.(Photo courtesy Strange Adventures, Halifax NS)

The first issue is getting really close to be sold out everywhere, so make sure to grab a copy if you haven't yet and - most importantly - let your shop know you want all the coming issues: that's a pretty safe way to make sure you get them all and have no holes in your collection.

And now to PART TWOof a tentatively comprehensive list - in no particular order -of all the press THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 has got in this past week.

THANK YOU again for all the love, everyone, we at BB-Team really appreciate it :)

Cheers,
Francesco

NEWSARAMA Best Shots Rapid Reviews: BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 9/10The script keeps things short and to the point, and is dripping with pulp and noir stylings. The artwork is dark and moody and brings the grim streets of Colt City to life as an unwelcoming and harsh place. The pulp noir atmosphere of the story is greatly enhanced by Francavilla’s gorgeous brushwork and gloomy color choices.

THE BEATReview: BLACK BEETLE #1
The remarkable thing about Francavilla’s storytelling is that the more he gives away about Black Beetle’s personal character, the more he suggests the unknown. Part of this is due to his concise but spectacle-oriented artwork that makes Black Beetle seem like an imposing but vulnerable force in an increasingly expansive and hostile environment.
It’s rare to find a comic that combines visual experimentation, appealing homage, and well-paced character development so seamlessly, but thankfully for readers, there’s more to come.

CBR CSBG What I bought – 16 January 2013 | Comics Should Be Good 7.5/10
The story does zip along quite nicely, but it’s Francavilla’s artwork that is the big selling point. It’s superb, of course. [...] he pulls out all the stops on this one. The book is absolutely beautiful, and it’s a pleasure to linger on the pages.
The Black Beetle is a solid superhero pulp story.

BORG.COMFrancesco Francavilla’s Black Beetle is back in No Way OutAdvance Review of #1
6 Reasons to get BB on your comic book store pull list so you don’t miss out.
Francavilla really sucks you into the past with his classic designs. His montages on a single or double-page spread begs the reader to take his/her time and examine all the details and signs in the backgrounds.

MY HOLLYWOOD DREAMPreview: The Black Beetle #1
The Black Beetle: No Way Out is very cool and stylistic, as a pulp comic it hits all of the right marks and stands out from the crowd.

COMICBOOKBINThe Black Beetle #1 comics review 9.5/10
The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 is clean comic book storytelling. [...] This is the kind of pulpy mayhem that first made me fall in love with comic books.

THE WEEKLY CRISISPost-Crisis Comic Book Previews
the comic is the real deal. Francavilla's stories are classic pulp, and his art is something to behold. So get out there and behold it already.

MULTIVERISTY COMICSComics Should Be Cheap!
Francesco Francavilla is one of the best illustrators in the business these days, and pulp action like this is what Francavilla does best. [...] who misses out on this new series is making a terrible mistake. Don’t be one of those people.

DigBoston and LeaguePodcast Comic Book Picks of the WeekBLACK BEETLE #1
We love us some pulp in the comics and it’s even better if it is fresh squeezed from the mind of Italian writer/artist Francesco Francavilla

UNWINNABLEMy Night in Colt City
At its heart, this is a mystery. There isn’t an ounce of cynicism or parody in this book. It’s clear that Francesco Francavilla is pouring everything into The Black Beetle: No Way Out. The book is a sincere love letter to pulp and noir.

NERDISTTop Picks: Black Beetle: No Way Out #1
Francesco Francavilla is a man on a pulpy, pulpy mission. [...] The hard-boiled mystery hits the ground running and doesn’t pause to catch its breath.

COMICOSITYReview: THE BLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT #1 8.5/10
Francavilla has been one of the top artists of the past few years and it has only gotten better now that he is working on one of his own creations. [...] For The Black Beetle to be able to fit in and stand side by side with the other pulp heroes says tons about the character design.

COMICS THE GATHERINGBlack Beetle #1: No Way Out Review 10/10
Pay attention everyone - this is how it's done.
The noir-ish narration works beautifully - it could have been written by Hammett or Chandler themselves, but manages to sound modernized in a way instead of entirely retro.

COMICBUZZBlack Beetle: No Way Out #1 Review
Francesco is an artist who can really tell a story, not just illustrate it, with his art. If issue one is anything to go by, Francavilla will have to make room on the mantelpiece for some more Eisners for interior work.

BLEEDING COOLEleven Thoughts About Eleven Comics
Francesco Francavilla creates a fully realised pulp hereo in The Black Beetle. Do we have a newRocketeer here? It’s looking more and more like it.

UPROXXThe Comic You Should Be Reading This Week: ‘Black Beetle: No Way Out’ #1
Francesco Francavilla is officially the whole package with Black Beetle: No Way Out. He’s had a long, and notable, career as an artist, but here, we get to see what he’s like as a writer, as well. And he does beautifully on both counts.
Francavilla does more with layouts here that we see in most books on the stands, even well rendered ones. [...] This is a book written by somebody who is in love with Will Eisner’s work and has the feel of something that can match up to him.

A COMICBOOK BLOGBlack Beetle #1 Review 10/10
Put simply, this is good comic booking. From the moment you flip the cover you’re going to be entertained, and left wanting more. For my two cents Francesco Francavilla has created something worthy of sitting next to any of the other popular crime books out there right now. If you haven’t already, go get this.

LUNCHThe Black Beetle Soars!
Draped in autumn colors and bold black lines, THE BLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT (Part 1 of 4) is a new fascination drawn from the fertile mind of Francesco Francavilla courtesy of Dark Horse Comics. If you know anything about pulp heroes, then you're in good company. Pick this one up today - even as a blind buy - and I guarantee you'll be impressed ... once you pick your jaw back up off the floor. It's a slam-bang, swashbuckling adventure from start-to-finish the way they used to make `em, and it'll hopefully be discovered by a brand-new generation of readers demanding that all of the pulps come back in similar style.

PARADOX COMICS GROUP Mini Reviews 20/01/2013 The Black Beetle 8/10
With some evocative 'camera' angles , along with the judicious use of a colour palette that leans heavily on reds, blacks a deep blues, Francavilla brings this fantastically noirish landscape to vibrant life, and marks him out as an increasingly important talent in the industry.

FORCES OF GEEKThe Pull List The Black Beetle #1 A+
Comic books are a mixed bag. Some are good while others are not so good, and then there are those that make you proud to be a fan of the genre. Besides being uber talented, it’s hard to fathom how Francesco Francavilla produced such an outstanding read.
Francesco Francavilla is in a league of his own and anyone who is looking for something different will thoroughly enjoy the work of this Eisner-award winning talent.

FIRST COMICS NEWS The Black Beetle #1 review 9/10
Francesco has defiantly created a hero that feels ripped from the pages of an old pulp novel, I went so far as to check the copyright information to confirm that this was indeed a new creation, that is how authentic it feels. They even went so far as to create 1940's styled radio show posters that they feature in the editorial pages, it is obviously a labor of love. If you are looking for a good old fashioned pulp adventure featuring a new character uncluttered with decades of history then this is the book that you have been waiting for.

COMIC ATTACKDark Horse Reviews: The Black Beetle #1 5/5
This book fits right into that same category of The Shadow and The Spider (Dynamite). Great pulp books with fantastic creative teams behind them. This one was certainly nothing short of brilliant!

HOUSE OF FLYING SCALPELS THE BLACK BEETLE #1 – CRAWLING THROUGH UNDERWORLD PULP 9/10
There are incredible panel sequences where the central figures moves away or towards the reader. It gives a masterful effect of movement towards a still first person camera, especially when black beetle falls across the page and downwards at the same time. Francavilla clearly has honed his craft and creativity with this book, and it succeeds on a style perspective. TO BE CONTINUED...

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 came out last week and was met by great acclaim: critics and fans of comics all loved the first installment of this new mini and that can only makes us happy! :)
Editor Jim Gibbons, letterer Nate Piekos, Mike Richardson, the whole Dark Horse crew, my lovely wife (and editor) Lisa, and myself are trying to give you the best entertaining book possible so we are all happy to see Black Beetle getting so much love all around :)

Above is a little teaser for issue 2 -which will be in stores on February 20th - and below is the first part of a tentatively comprehensive list - in no particular order -of all the press THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 has got in this past week.

THANK YOU, everyone, can't wait for you guys to dig into issue 2 :)

Cheers,
Francesco

COMICBASTARDSReview: The Black Beetle #1 5/5the Francesco Francavilla-penned, Dark Horse-published “Super-Noir” pulp serial Black Beetle is, without question or compromise, The Shit. You’ll notice that’s a capital “S” there, kids. It’s one of those titles where, after reading it, I just had to sit back and say, “THAT’S how you do it! THAT’S how you comic book!”

COMICVINEThe Black Beetle Review 5/5Be prepared for some crime fighting adventure that stands out from the rest. You'll want to thank Francesco Francavilla for this comic.

CBRTHE BLACK BEETLE #1 Review 4.5/5Francavilla uses the entirety of the page, setting up design elements and filling the pages with simple mesmerizing drawings. Add in the fact that Francavilla is also handling colors for this comic and the visuals are even more appealing. Truly, this is his comic book, his character, his passion brought to the printed page.

GEEKS OF DOOMThe Black Beetle: No Way Out #1I’m willing to bet that The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 is going to be nominated for at LEAST one Eisner award. [...] This is as close to perfection as comics get!!

NEWSARAMABest Shots ExtraThe Black Beetle #110/10 An original concept likeThe Black Beetle will surely give fans of the genre something to cheer for. It's been a long time coming for this title and it was worth the wait.

MULTIVERSITY COMICSReview: Black Beetle – No Way Out #1 8.5/10 Just as he has studied the look of the pulps and the comics they influenced, Francavilla has scritinized their text and structure, and applied that knowledge to crafting a great comic through and through.A visual delight, and a genuinely entertaining read, the first chapter of “No Way Out” is just the thing for those with a love for all things pulp, or who just enjoy this talented artist’s work. COMICBOOKBINThe Black Beetle #1 Advanced Review 9.5/10Everything about this issue, from its stylish 399cent (as in $3.99) cover price to its uneven and blocky logo, The Black Beetle drips pulp fiction. This is going to be the must read of 2013.

THEOUTHOUSERSAdvance Review: The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 is hugely entertaining and it has all the hallmarks of everything that makes pulp adventure fiction so much fun. It's just a fun ride and so lovingly rendered by writer/artist Francesco Francavilla that you can't help but love it yourself. GRAPHIC POLICYReview – Dark Horse’s The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 8.5/10I went in expecting pulp fun and finished with a smile on my face. [...] There’s an innocence to it, and that makes it a blast to read!

READ COMIC BOOKSBlack Beetle: No Way Out #1 Review 10/10Black Beetle: No Way out #1 could just set the world on fire, and if you’re smart you’ll pick up a copy as soon as possible. This is great pulp storytelling and art married together to bring readers one awesome pulpy story.

COMICOSITYHOT FIVE: BLACK BEETLE #1 If you’ve ever been wistful for those classic comic book days gone by, but want a fresh story to satisfy that urge, this is the book for you.

STUMPTOWN TRADE REVIEWIndie Comic Review: Black Beetle #1Part pulp hero, part diesel punk, Francesco Francavilla’s new series Black Beetle is poised to be the must-read book of the year.

NOSTALGIC BOOKSANDCOMICSReview: Black Beetle #1The Black Beetle is an urban myth at its finest. Francavilla knows his stuff. He has interwoven his love letter to the genre with the best elements and traditions of mystery, action-adventure, and vigilante super heroics. More than that, this book is unadulterated pulp fiction deeply rooted in noir storytelling conventions.This is a quality production from Dark Horse. Executed by next big name of the medium, this comic book is sure to garner a faithful following. It’s still early, but this will no doubt be in the running for one of the top books of this New Year.

OMNICOMIC Review - The Black Beetle #1Francavilla offers an extremely fresh take on the noir comic, making the Black Beetle more than just a detective with an axe to grind for whatever reason. The Black Beetle #1 is such a fun throwback comic that shows a lot of commitment on the part of Francavilla, relying entirely on a strong story, inventive lead character and vibrant artwork.

PANELS ON PAGESReview: The Black Beetle – No Way Out #1 5/5Every so often, I read a comic book that makes me say out loud “Man, I love comics.” Such is the case with Dark Horse’s The Black Beetle #1, written and illustrated by Francesco Francavilla. [...] The Black Beetle #1 does everything right. It’s masterfully crafted in every way. The story is presented exactly as it should be. The mood is perfect.

GEEKQUALITYWe’re No. 1! Noir, Outer Space, and Too Many BikinisThe best of the bunch this week is a pure noir superhero tale from Dark Horse Comics. The Black Beetle #1 is a classic thriller in the vein of the Shadow or the Green Hornet, or even early pulpy Batman

THE WEEKLY CRISISBLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT #1with Black Beetle: No Way Out #1, Francavilla has demonstrated that he is a pretty skilled pulp writer.

COMIC IMPACTThe Black Beetle #1 by Francesco Francavilla There is so much style in this comic you feel like you are reading a movie. Francavilla is a master storyteller being able to get across some great action panel by panel. He also is able to turn a splash page into a painting and get across information in a great way that is both easy to read and eye pleasuring.

DARLING DORK Dark Horse Presents, The Black Beetle: No Way OutThe composition is note-perfect, too. Francavilla just doesn’t do traditional nine-panel page structure, and this book is all the better for it. Each page bears a greater resemblance to a pulp cover, movie poster or mural than to an actual page, though the effect never becomes intrusive.

ENTROPIC WORLDSThe Black Beetle #1It’s been a while since I’ve read a comic that hits all aspects of its design so firmly on the nose.This issue is marketed as part one of a four part miniseries, but I seriously hope that Dark Horse gives the green light to more of The Black Beetle in the future.

POP MATTERSSecond Guessing the Exits: "Black Beetle: No Way Out #1" 7/10I’m excited to read more of Francavilla’s pulpy patchwork superhero. The art is gorgeous and exciting and the characters are intriguing and mysterious. I definitely want to know more, and I am looking forward to the rest of the mini series.

BLOODY DISGUSTINGReview: ‘Black Beetle: No Way Out’ #14/5It all has an incredibly consistent look and feel. I want more. That is a great start to a new book. And this is only the first part of a four part story. You know it has an ending but I hope it is the start of something bigger we can all look forward to reading.

TALKING COMICSThe Black Beetle #1 ReviewFrancavilla is constructing a hard-boiled world grounded in reality and awash in blacks, reds, and guns.The artwork alone is as engaging as the script itself, making for an overall exemplary debut issue.

WORDOFTHENERDONLINEReview: The Black Beetle “No Way Out” #1Final Thoughts: It’s the stuff that dreams are made of, Schweetheart. If you haven’t already picked it up, do it now or regret it for the rest of your life. (Yup, too much Bogart in my repertoire)

FRONT TOWARDS GAMERThe Black Beetle in 'No Way Out' #1 Review 8/10The art and writing are married so perfectly that they capture the essence of a classic crime novel while appealing to modern artistic quality expectations.

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE GEEKSA Review: THE BLACK BEETLE: NO WAY OUT #1I’m really enjoying the renaissance of pulp heroes we’ve seen lately, and the Black Beetle is yet another quality installment of that movement. I’m looking forward to keeping up with this one.

KASTOR'S KORNERComics Korner: The Black Beetle #1 ReviewAny fan of classic pulp comics will love The Black Beetle. It’s full of action, mystery, great writing and the fantastic art that Francavilla is known for.

Friday, January 11, 2013

I can finally reveal the final cover (and solicits text) of THE BLACK BEETLE first mini: NO WAY OUT #4 will be in stores in April and will reveal who is behind Labyrinto's mask (unless you have guessed it already by then - if you have, than I am proud of your detective skills :))

Once again, pre-orders mean everything: as you might know by now, we totally sold out of #0 and I received tons of messages from people telling me their store didn't carry any so now they are left out. Stores will rarely order copies of a book if they don't get customers ordering them cause they fear they will be left with unsold copies (fear totally understandable).So, please, make sure to let your store know that you want all 4 issue of THE BLACK BEETLE, add the title to your pull list: it's the only way to make sure you are not gonna miss any of these :)

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #4
Written by Francesco Francavilla
Art by Francesco Francavilla
On sale April 17, 2013
The epic conclusion to Black Beetle’s first series! Colt City’s caped crusader goes head to head with the mysterious villain Labyrinto! Can Black Beetle make it out of this maze of matched wits and matched blows alive?!

THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 will be in stores next Wednesday!
Advance reviews have already started to pour in and - like for NIGH SHIFT #0 - they are all praising how entertaining this book is.

Here's a quick extract from COMICBOOKBIN's ★★★★★ review:"Everything about this issue, from its stylish 399cent (as in $3.99) cover price to its uneven and blocky logo, The Black Beetle drips pulp fiction. This is going to be the must read of 2013."

So don't miss out on the FUN and make sure to grab a copy this coming week - hopefully you have already put the title on your pull list and don't have to worry ;)

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Thank you for all the support, my friends, and please keep it coming enjoying the new mini which starts next week. The better the book does, the more stories I get to draw, it's that simple :)

Here's the Press Release Dark Horse Comics sent out today to announce the great news! ~~~~Dark Horse Press Release

January 7, MILWAUKIE, OR: In another amazing show of demand for Dark Horse comics, The Black Beetle: Night Shift has sold out of its entire printing!Written and drawn by Eisner Award winner Francesco Francavilla, this now-rare “zero issue” collects three Dark Horse Presents stories, from issues #11–#13, and acts as an introduction to Francavilla’s costumed pulp detective.

“[Francavilla] proves that a good, old-fashioned adventure story can still raise the bar in comics, whatever genres one may care to throw into the mix,” Hannah Means-Shannon said in her review of The Black Beetle: Night Shift on The Beat. “The Black Beetle certainly has the potential to become an enduring ‘cult classic,’ inspiring readers to roll up for more ‘twisted thoughts’ from Francavilla in 2013.”

And readers are in luck, as the first full-length series for Francavilla’s The Black Beetle premieres this month with The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1, on sale January 16, 2013!

Coming soon in No Way Out #1, Black Beetle’s investigation of two local mob bosses is interrupted when a mysterious explosion murders them and a pub full of gangsters—taking out most of Colt City’s organized crime in one fell swoop. Who could pull off such a coup, and what danger might that murderous bomber do to Colt City and Black Beetle?

Be sure to head to your local comics retailer next week to check out The Black Beetle #1 before it’s gone for good!

“If there’s one comic book that we’re most excited for in 2013, it’s Francesco Francavilla’s The Black Beetle. So far, it looks to be a throwback to the serials and film noir of the late ’30s and early ’40s. And now Dark Horse Comics has provided a taste of what to expect with this prologue issue.”—Complex

“Murder! Intrigue! Nazi werewolves! Is there anything else you really need in a book? Considering that everyone from Jim Steranko to Matt Wagner to Warren Ellis is raving about the book, we suggest you hightail it down to your local comic book shop and snag a copy before the trail goes cold.”—Nerdist

“Francavilla is a master of his craft . . . If you enjoyed Francavilla’s work at DC then you owe it to yourself to get on this. The Black Beetle is a delightful slice of skewed madness from one of today’s finest artists.”—Comic Book Resources

“Uncommonly beautiful . . . The Black Beetle is the purest expression yet of Eisner-winning artist Francavilla’s love for pulp, mystery, noir and superhero aesthetics, qualities that art fans have seen on display in a major way with his more than 70 cover illustrations released in 2012 alone.”—ComicsAlliance

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Dark Horse released the above poster as part of a promotional campaign of new "SUPER" titles that are launching this month.
Our Black Beetle gets the SUPER NOIR treatment and I love it! Hope you do too. Please feel free to spread this promo poster around on the web: the more know about BB the better :)

We are less than 2 weeks away from NO WAY OUT #1: can't wait for you guys to dig into the new tales of The Black Beetle :)

Friday, January 4, 2013

Time to reveal the third issue of the series now available for pre-orders: you can see the cover above (first cover showcasing the name of the city BB operates in too) and here is the solicits text to tease you while you wait for the release (in March) ;)

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #3
Written by Francesco Francavilla
Art by Francesco Francavilla
On sale March 20, 2013
Under the watchful gaze of the mysterious Labyrinto, Black Beetle fights for his life! Is this the doing of a man that Black Beetle thought was dead? Could a zombie mobster be commanding the foes of Colt City’s dark avenger?! If he survives the night, the investigative insect will be left with questions to ponder as he takes his investigation . . . to the morgue!

THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 is still available for pre-orders: here's a pre-order form Dark Horse put together to make things easy for you. Just click on the image, print out the form, bring it to the shop, and -voila- it's done! :)

THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 will be in stores in less than two weeks. Can't wait for you guys to dig in :)

And the love keeps coming!BLACK BEETLE NIGHT SHIFT (aka #0) came out 2 weeks ago but the great reviews and kind words about it keep coming!

I am seriously overwhelmed by all the BB love that is pouring on the first issue: definitely grateful and humbled by the readers' appreciation but also fueled by it to do more and better, and hopefully it will show already in the next issue from the NO WAY OUT mini.

But really, THANK YOU, GRAZIE MILLE, everyone, I am so glad y'all are enjoying the character and the stories :)

And now here some more, recent, reviews.

FOLLOWING THE NERDCOMIC REVIEW: FTN reviews Black Beetle #05/5★
Based on the strength of this issue and the gorgeous art, I’ll
definitely be picking up the next Black Beetle adventure and if it
upholds the quality set here, we are all in for a treat.

COMIC ADDICTIONREVIEW: The Black Beetle #0 There is an obvious pulp feel to this book that reminds you of classic characters like The Shadow, The Spider, Green Hornet, and others. Francavilla’s decision to create a new character in that same vein really plays to his amazing art style that could easily fit into that era of comic book history and stand toe to toe with them.

COMICS & GAMING MAGAZINEThe Black Beetle in Night Shift #04.5/5★ There’s something really iconic about every aspect of this book, from the title to his character to the artwork and more. The visuals are superb, heavy shadows and a very simple colour palette. [...] It’s a meticulously created mythos and I’m excited to read the rest.

MULTIVERSITY COMICSComics Should Be Cheap! (12/19/2012) If for whatever reason you are hesitant about checking out the new mini, pick this issue up and you’ll have your mind changed.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

I am so happy to see that Black Beetle #0 (collecting the NIGHT SHIFT 3-parter published in DHP plus extra material) was received so well by critics and fans (lots of BB love on Twitter) - makes me even more excited to get the new mini NO WAY OUT rolling this year. If you haven't picked it up yet, please do: I heard of several store being sold out already and I don't want you to miss out on the fun that Black Beetle is :)

Here some of the reviews (click on the links for the full reviews).

~~Ŧ~~

THE BEATREVIEW: THE BLACK BEETLE #0, “Night Shift”BLACK BEETLE certainly has the potential to become an enduring “cult classic”, inspiring readers to roll up for more “twisted thoughts” from Francavilla in 2013.

GEEKS OF DOOMComic Review: The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0 is all set up and all AWESOME! Let’s be honest, there’s plenty of pulp heroes running around these days, but The Black Beetle is all sorts of fun. No downbeat, depressing, down on humanity story here, just some fantastic action and adventure!

LOGO GO /NO GO(Tom Muller)GO: THE BLACK BEETLE — NIGHT SHIFT The Black Beetle is Francesco Francavilla’s love letter to the pulp fiction serials of the 30s and 40s. Francavilla is pulling out all the stops to really capture the finer points of the pulp design language, both for the cover designs and the related promo material to create a fully realised design language that is flexible but immediately recognisable.

COMIC VINEBest Comic Covers of the WeekWe loved the really pulpy cover to THE BLACK BEETLE: NIGHT SHIFT #0 by Francesco Francavilla this week. It reminded us of those old 1950's mystery paperback covers in the way it is styled, and the way Francavilla plays with light and shadows is simply awesome.

SCIFI PULSEIn Review: The Black Beetle #0AFrancesco Francavilla has got a mastery of this universe and shifts us around it expertly. I cannot wait to see where he takes us next!

COMICBOOKBINThe Black Beetle #0 Review9/10★ Easily one of the year's best debut issues, The Black Beetle #0 is opening salvo of what looks to be one of the best ongoing series of its kind.

COMIC BASTARDSReview: The Black Beetle #04/5★The story and artwork flows seamlessly together, a beneficial effect of having a single creative mind at work, and the plot is masterfully paced with no dull moments to be found.

NOSTALGIC Books and ComicsPicks of the Week: 12/19/12 This handsome collection features three Dark Horse Presents stories originally published in issues #11–#13, from Eisner Award winning talent, Francesco Francavilla (Batman: The Black Mirror). Pure masterful pulp at its finest. This buzz-worthy read is as beautiful as action/adventure gets!

Picks of the week. FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA, the incredibly talented artist of BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR, totally blows our minds with the first issue of this mini-series that debuts his tribute to the pulp era, the BLACK BEETLE.

REVIEWFIXThe Black Beetle: Night Shift Review: Worth Getting Excited About “The Black Beetle: Night Shift” is a well written pulp comic that is a joy to read from begging to end. It is well written, a page turner and has some of the best art the genre has seen this generation. “The Black Beetle” series and Francesco Francavilla are going places and those places will be huge.

COMICOSITYTHE HONOR ROLL It may have been the most flat out entertaining book of the week.

COMIC-PER-DAY REVIEWSBlack Beetle #0 This is a moody, atmospheric piece that really hits the pulp target.

BLACK BEETLE: NIGHT SHIFT #0 This is a story of high adventure, where moral dilemmas are pretty black and white, and it's an awful fun adventure to be on.

DEN OF GEEKBlack Beetle #0 (Dark Horse), Night Shift, Review9/10★ While reading the full color comic, I could practically hear the breathless tones of an old radio drama, or see the Black Beetle as the star of his own Republic serial. There's no doubt about it, boys and girls! The Black Beetle #0 was the best thing I read all week!

THE PARADOX COMICS GROUPBLACK BEETLE #08/10★ Clandestine Nazi agents, ancient mystical artifacts and an ice-cool, gun-wielding costumed crimefighter, presented in the comic format with style and aplomb? How could I not sign up for this?

COMPLEXReviewUsing heavy inks, deep colors, and powerful composition, Francavilla brings the fictional world of Colt City to life in style.

COMICS! THE BLOGYou Read These With Your Eyes! Artist Francesco Francavilla wears his pulp influences on his sleeve. From his colouring choices, to his sense of panel design, the majority of his work feels like it emerged from the radio drama days of old, when characters like The Shadow and The Spider reigned supreme.